FANRPAN together with partners convened the inaugural African Youth Agribusiness Forum (AYAF), hosted at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa on 04 November 2024. This landmark event was attended by over 80 participants from youth, politics, business, science and civil society from across the continent to engage in critical dialogue on advancing youth participation in Africa’s agrifood systems.
The forum was officiated by H.E. Amb. Josefa Sacko, AU Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment, and H.E. Cem Özdemir, Germany’s Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture. Their visionary leadership set the tone for meaningful discussions aimed at creating an enabling environment for Africa’s youth to thrive in agribusiness and contribute to the continent’s food security and economic resilience.
A special focus was placed on the AU African Agribusiness Youth Strategy (AAYS). The aim is to enable the participatory involvement of young agripreneurs in the area of tension between agribusiness and the agricultural policy framework, especially regarding the forthcoming Kampala Declaration.
The event was co-convened with the Agricultural Policy Dialogue between the African Union and Germany to strengthen the resilience of food systems in Africa (APD AU) consortium of IAK Agrar Consulting GmbH (lead partner), Andreas Hermes Akademie (AHA) and FANRPAN working closely with the AU Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment. The APD AU initiative is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL).
FANRPAN led by Mr Suwilanji Sinyangwe shared its commitment to empowering African youth, recognizing them as critical drivers of innovation and transformation within the agricultural sector. Through collaborative platforms such as AYAF and initiatives like AU-APD, we aim to ensure that the voices of Africa’s youth are amplified and that they are equipped with the tools, policies, and resources needed to thrive in agribusiness.
A “Call to Action” was presented and officially handed over to the AU Commission, which the young agricultural entrepreneurs had developed together in online seminars and during the AYAF. This is aimed at the leaders of the African continent and recommends concrete measures to support young agripreneurs in particular in overcoming the countless structural challenges associated with the successful and sustainable establishment and management of modern agricultural enterprises